FEATURE FILM highlights

Tuesday, October 13 • 11:45am - 1:10pm

Stranded in Canton

D: Måns Månsson | USA | 77 min | Regional Premiere

Lebrun is a new player on the burgeoning Chinese-African trade route,brokering in Guangzhou an enormous order for Congolese presidential campaign t-shirts. But he gets stung when the order is held up in production until months after the election. Instead of returning to Kinshasa a rich man with a bright future, he remains in limbo in Guangzhou, facing nothing but mounting debts for warehousing the useless garments. Inspired by the success of fellow Africans on the field and determined not to return to his farm, Lebrun develops a plan to repurpose the t-shirts and sell them to the opposition for the 2016 election.

Tuesday, October 13 • 6:00pm - 7:40pm

Something Better to Come

D: Hanna Polak | USA | 98 min

10-year-old Yula is growing up in Putin's Russia in the Svalka, the largest junkyard in Europe, just 13 miles from the Kremlin. She has one dream-to escape the Svalka and have a normal life. For 14 years, we follow Yula as she grows up.

Tuesday, October 13 • 7:50pm - 9:15pm

Very Semi-Serious

D: Leah Wolchok | USA | 83 min | Regional Premiere

The New Yorker is the undisputed king of the single panel cartoon. Whether they leave us amused, inspired, or even a little baffled, the iconic cartoons have become instantly recognizable over the past 90 years. Very Semi-Serious offers viewers a glimpse into the process behind the cartoons with legends Roz Chast and Mort Gerberg submitting their work alongside newbies like graphic novelist Liana Finck. Cartoon Editor Bob Mankoff sifts through hundreds of submissions every week to bring readers a carefully curated selection of insightful and humorous work, striving to nurture new talent while continuing to uphold the magazine’s established style. Leah Wolchok's light-hearted and sometimes poignant debut offers a window into The New Yorker’s unique brand of subtle, contemplative humor, and perhaps also onto what it means to laugh at ourselves.

Official Selection Tribeca FF, Vancouver International FF, AFI Docs, Seattle International FF, San Francisco International FF

Tuesday, October 13 • 8:30pm - 10:20pm

A performance-packed film about the renowned poet and activists contribution to the world of poetry, her singular place in the Black Arts Movement, and her role in American culture over the last 50+ years. Deemed 'a lion in literature's forest' by Maya Angelou, Sonia confronts all forms of injustice, exploring a wide range of global and humanist themes, particularly the struggles and triumphs of people of color in America. Featured appearances by Questlove, Talib Kweli, Ursula Rucker, Ruby Dee, Mos Def and more. Sonia Sanchez “offers hope and heroes,” and a liberating vision of redemption, compassion and self-respect.

Tuesday, October 13 • 9:20pm - 10:50pm

T-Rex

D: Drea Cooper, Zach Canepari | USA | 91 min | Regional Premiere

"T­Rex" is an intimate coming ­of­ age story about a new kind of American heroine. For the first time ever, women’s boxing is included in the 2012 Olympics. Fighting for gold from the U.S. is Claressa “T­Rex” Shields, just 17 years old, and by far the youngest competitor. From the hard knock streets of Flint, Michigan, Claressa is undefeated and utterly confident. Her fierceness extends beyond the ring. She protects her family at any cost, even when their instability and addictions threaten to derail her dream. Claressa does have one stable force in her life. Coach Jason Crutchfield has trained her since she was a scrawny 11­year­old hanging out at his gym. Jason always wanted a champion,he just never thought it’d be a girl. Her relationships with her coach and her family grow tense as she gets closer to her dream. But Claressa is fierce and determined. She desperately wants to take her family to a better, safer place and winning a gold medal could be her only chance.

World Premiere SXSW, Winner Audience Award and Special Jury Award San Francisco International FF, Won Roger Ebert Prize Traverse City FF, Official Selection Hot Docs

Tuesday, October 13 • 9:00pm - 12:00am

Rolando's Mountainside Patio

A patio carved into the Ouachita Mountains is the perfect spot to celebrate our festival’s 24th year. Dance under the lighted trees to the latino swing of Jacob Flores. Complimentary Salsa and Chips. $5 quesadillas, pork and chicken tacos. Cash Bar.

HSDFF runs October 9-18, 2015 at the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa. For more information on the festival visit www.hsdfi.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay up-to-date on the latest news and information.

Recipients of the Spa City Award for Best Documentary Short will qualify for consideration in theDocumentary Short Subject category of the Annual Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run,provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.